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Vietnam Veterans Day in Wisconsin

April 19, 2013 04:07 PM

Governor Walker and Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary John Scocos kicked off the 50th Anniversary celebration in Wisconsin.

MADISON – As part of Vietnam Veterans Day in Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary John A. Scocos along with Governor Scott Walker today kicked off the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War at a ceremony with Vietnam veterans at the Capitol.

"The history of the Vietnam War is one we must never forget and we must heed the lessons we learned there," WDVA Secretary Scocos said. "Vietnam Veterans Day is a day to remember the scars of battle. It reminds us to thank our military personnel for putting themselves in harms way and for the pain and suffering they may have endured. It reminds us to think of the families of these men and women, their worry and anguish, and be grateful for their sacrifice. And it reminds us to remember those still missing and unaccounted for."

Governor Scott Walker proclaimed March 29, 2013 as "Vietnam Veterans Day" in Wisconsin. At a ceremony today, the Governor presented his proclamation to Richard Lindbeck, President of the Vietnam Veterans of America Wisconsin State Council, who accepted it on behalf of all of Wisconsin’s Vietnam veterans.

"Today, on behalf of all Wisconsinites, we remember those who served in the Vietnam War," said Governor Scott Walker. "As we continue to move forward it’s important to take time to honor those who fought hard for the freedoms we enjoy today."

More than 165,000 Wisconsinites served in Vietnam, with 1,239 paying the ultimate sacrifice. With about 135,000, Vietnam veterans are the largest group of living veterans in Wisconsin.

President Barack Obama has proclaimed May 28, 2012 through November 11, 2025 as the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. The President is calling all to honor Vietnam veterans, the fallen, the wounded, those unaccounted for, former prisoners of war, their families and all who served.

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs has joined the Vietnam War Commemoration as a commemorative chair. The Commemorative Partner Program is designed for federal, state, and local communities, as well as veterans’ organizations and nongovernmental organizations to assist in thanking and honoring our nation’s Vietnam veterans with dignified, memorable events to pay tribute to all veterans. The focus of Wisconsin’s participation in the program will be to honor Vietnam veterans with events at the hometown level, as close as possible to the veterans and their families.